Going without… shampoo that is.

Katie — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 01:49:40 +0000

While I was working I could easily spend all day cruising the internet, with limited accessibility because of firewalls and IP blockers. I spent most of my time perusing parenting forums. My favorite was Mothering.com, which is where I came across the crazy notion that shampoo was making my curly hair unruly. They called it No ‘Poo, I called it nuts. While doing some research I came to realize that typical shampoo was chock full of chemicals, most that I couldn’t pronounce and didn’t want to rub on my head.

There are a couple of premises behind No ‘Poo. A few are:

Shampoo is a detergent and literally strips your hair of moisture, oil and shine, making it prone to damage and breakage.
Curly hair is especially prone to shampoo damage because it is more porous and fragile.
Because hair is frequently stripped of its natural oils, your scalp goes into hyperdrive. This is why some people describe their hair as an oil slick.

Start with three main ingredients — Baking Soda, Apple Cider Vinegar and a good conditioner. When purchasing a conditioner, read the ingredients.

Try to find something that does not have any ‘cones’ — Dimethicone, Silicone, etc. These will coat your hair and you’ll end up with a greasy mess.
Avoid mineral oil, a nasty byproduct of gasoline distilling. Your body id unable to absorb it, so it will also create a greasy mess. It also blocks the scalp from releasing built up toxins and oil. Acne anyone?
Also avoid Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLFS). Known skin irritants, SLS and SLFS are commonly added to shampoo and other detergents as a foaming aget. They are currently being questioned regarding cancer and toxic build up in tissues.
If you use a gel, use a clear one. You may find that oils work well for you now, such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, apricot oil, extra virgin olive oil. Some people like to use alcohol-free Aloe Vera gel.

When Declan was born, I was a shower and shampoo every day kind of girl. I used lots of extras to keep my hair in check. I tried No ‘Poo for about a week before I couldn’t handle it. My roots were detoxing and super greasy and my ends were dry, split and straw like. I had to go in public like that for 40+ hours a weeks. Eek.

Now that I stay home with the boys, I don’t get out as often and shampooing has come down to 2 or 3 times a weeks, to save time in the shower. I’m hoping that my hair wont have to detox nearly as much this time, and if it does, oh well. I can always wear a hat to the grocery store.

I’ll be photo documenting my journey and posting more info as I go. Next Up — No ‘Poo routines.

Here are some No ‘Poo sources:

What is No ‘Poo?

Info: Shampoo Free

The No ‘Poo Method

The No Shampoo Alternative — No Poo

Of Course I Washed My Hair Last Year (I’m Almost Certain)

How to Ditch Shampoo

All about the No ‘Poo Routine

Break the Shampoo Habit

Treating Your Hair Like a Bathroom Sink

Conditioner-Only Hair Washing